In June, Tamworth based Nationals MLC, Trevor Khan voted in support of a motion calling on the Commonwealth to support same sex marriage.

At the time he argued that conservatives should support marriage equality because it was both rational and sensible.

He's now been appointed to a cross-party group of New South Wales politicians formed to produce a bill on same-sex marriage which will be put to a conscience vote in state parliament

"There are now four bills before the Federal parliament in relations to the issue, and the preferable course of action is for the matter to be dealt with at federal level, but if it fails this working group with consider the issue."

"My view is that any state based bill, must be restricted to same sex marriages. It would have to have clear protections for the churches .. we would go and look at the models in Tasmania and South Australia and see what we can do."

He said Professor George Williams from the University of NSW has a view that state based same sex marriage bills may be valid.

"One would hope that the better position would be, that if the power rests with the states, that there would be a transfer of those powers to the Commonwealth and we would end up with a Commonwealth law, because I think there is a real issue of uniformity across the nation on these issues, that is clearly a better outcome. And clearly those who live in one state would like to know that their marriage was recognised in another state".

He said he has already started to receive some negative emails about the move this morning, but he said the community needs to be tolerant with a diversity of views.

"There is a clear trend in our community to accept same sex relationships and same sex marriage. It is a strong and continuing trend and eventually the parliaments will accept that reality."

The working group will again to consider the issue this Thursday.

Reverend Simon Hansford from the Tamworth South Side Uniting Church said it is a critical conversation that we should be having.